Your Walmart app can stop functioning if there’s an issue with your device’s location settings or if you’re using a VPN. This is because the app uses your location data to provide certain services, and VPNs can sometimes interfere with accurate location data.
Refreshing your device’s location modules can be a quick fix for this issue. You can do this by turning your location settings off and then on again. Alternatively, resetting your device can also help resolve the issue.
In this article, we will discuss the steps to troubleshoot issues with both consumer-facing applications and work-related applications. For a consumer-facing app, ensure the issue is not occurring due to the presence of expired debit or credit cards.
1. Disable the Power Saving Mode
The Walmart app may not function properly if your phone is in power-saving mode. This is because the power-saving mode limits the operation of certain system components that the app needs in order to run smoothly. To fix this issue, simply turn off the power-saving mode on your device.
On an iOS device, navigate to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode and disable it.
On an Android device:
- Navigate to Settings > Battery and Device Care > Battery > Power Saving Mode.
- Disable Power Saving Mode and check if the app is working correctly.
2. Relaunch the App after Force Closing it
The app will not work if its core modules have malfunctioned and need a fresh start with the default state. Relaunching the application after force closing it will solve the problem.
For iOS devices, simply close the application and swipe up from the recent apps list.
For Android devices:
- Exit Walmart, then tap on the Recent Apps button and close all.
- Navigate to Settings > Applications Manager > Walmart.
- Force stop the app and launch it again. Check if it is operating correctly.
In the case of a work-related Walmart app, first launch Walmart’s Tunnel app. Once it indicates that a connection is available, launch the app and check if it is working properly.
3. Force Restart of the Problematic Device
The Walmart app might also encounter issues if some operating system elements are not functioning properly or if there is a problem with your phone’s operational memory.
If this is the case, a force restart of your device can help. This action clears the system cache and resets network connections, which should help the Walmart app to run smoothly again.
- Quickly press & release the volume up and volume down buttons of your iPhone in order.
- Then, hold the phone’s side button, and on the power slider menu, continue holding the side button.
- Once the Apple logo appears on the screen, release the button. After the device powers on, check if the Walmart app is working correctly.
4. Re-log into the Walmart App
If the client requests from your app are not authenticated on the servers, the Walmart app will encounter issues because it will not be able to communicate with the servers properly.
In such cases, logging out and then logging back into the app can help re-establish the necessary authentication and resolve the problem.
- Launch the Walmart app and navigate to Menu > Sign Out.
- Relaunch the Walmart app after force-closing it and log into the Walmart app. Check if the app is working properly.
5. Update the Walmart App to the Latest Build
If your Walmart app is outdated, it may become incompatible with the servers, and as a result, fail to communicate with them. To solve this issue, update the application to the latest build. Additionally, bugs in your current app installation might be fixed in the updated version.
For iOS devices, you can use the App Store instead of the Google Play Store to update the app.
- Launch the Google Play Store and search for the Walmart app you are trying to debug.
- Apply the app update if shown and update all other Walmart apps on your device.
- Restart the phone and launch the desired Walmart app. Check if it is operating correctly.
6. Update the OS to the Latest Build
You will experience issues with the Walmart app if your phone’s operating system (OS) is outdated. This will cause compatibility problems between the phone and the application. You can fix this by updating your phone’s OS to the latest version.
Before updating, be sure to back up your phone, fully charge it, and connect it to a power source.
For iOS devices, navigate to General > About > Software update.
For Android:
- Navigate to Settings > About Device > Software Update.
- If an OS update is displayed, download and install the update.
- Once done, restart your phone and check if the Walmart app is functioning properly.
7. Disable VPN on the Device
Your Walmart account is closely tied to your physical location to provide customized content. If, due to a VPN, your app’s requests are coming from an unusual location, Walmart servers will not respond to those requests. In this case, disabling the device’s VPN will solve the problem.
If you are using a VPN app, use it to disable the VPN. To disable the VPN on an iPhone:
- On your iPhone, navigate to Settings > General > VPN.
- Disable the VPN and restart your phone.
- Launch the Walmart app and see if it is working properly.
In case you are having issues with a Walmart work-related app, you may need to install the Tunnel app, which creates an authentic VPN connection between your device and Walmart. This is provided by Walmart to all its employees.
8. Refresh the Location of your Device
It is essential for the Walmart app to verify your device’s location in order to provide customized content. If your device’s location modules are in an error state, the app will not be able to fetch the data, and as a result, it won’t work. In this case, simply refreshing your location will solve the problem.
Refresh Location on an Android Phone
- Exit the Walmart app and Swipe down or up to open the Quick Settings panel.
- Tap on “Location” to disable it, and wait for a minute.
- Enable Location and launch the Walmart app. Check if it is operating properly.
Refresh Location Services on an iPhone
- Exit the Walmart app and close all recently opened apps.
- Navigate to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
- Disable Location Services andlaunch the Walmart app.
- When asked to, enable Location Services and check if the problematic Walmart app is working normally.
9. Try Another Network or Network Type
Your Walmart app may not work on some networks, such as university or corporate networks, as these networks restrict traffic to various online resources outside their domain. Moreover, certain work-related Walmart apps require an individual to be either on a data network or a Walmart store network.
This will be solved by trying another network or network type.
- Disable the problematic connection type (such as Wi-Fi) and enable the other network type (such as Mobile Data).
- Launch the Walmart app and see if the problem is solved.
- If this does not work, connect the phone to a different Wi-Fi network (preferably, a Walmart Wi-Fi network) and check again.
- If this doesn’t work well either, enable and disable the phone’s Bluetooth.
10. Reinstall the Walmart Application
The app will stop working if the latest update invalidates the core components of the app installation; as a result, the app’s internal modules will not be able to communicate with each other. This issue can be fixed by reinstalling the application, which will fetch a fresh copy and reinitialize all modules.
Remember to keep your credentials available to re-log into the app.
For iOS devices, simply press and hold the application icon until it wiggles, then click on Remove.
- Log out of the Walmart app (as discussed earlier).
- Navigate to the phone’s Settings > Application Manager > Walmart.
- Force-close the app and open Storage.
- Clear the cache and data to remove any residual files after uninstallation.
- Hit back and uninstall the app.
- Restart your phone and install the app.
- Launch the Walmart app and check if the problem is solved. In the case of a work-related Walmart app, you may launch the Tunnel app, and once it shows the ‘Connection Available’ message, launch the application and see if it works.
11. Edit the Device’s Browser Settings
Certain modules of your default browser are used by many Walmart apps to complete their operations. You will experience issues if any of the browser settings do not meet the requirements of the applications. In this scenario, editing the settings of your device’s default browser will solve the problem.
For Safari on an iPhone
- Uninstall the Walmart app and restart your phone.
- Navigate to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
- Confirm to delete the history and data.
- Restart your iPhone and reinstall the Walmart app.
- Launch the app and check if it is operating normally.
For Chrome on An Android Phone
- Launch Settings on the phone.
- Navigate to Application Manager > Chrome.
- Disable Chrome and restart your phone.
- Enable Chrome and launch the Walmart app. Check if it is working correctly.
In case you are experiencing an issue while signing into the Walmart app, launch the app, open its menu, select ‘Open in Chrome,’ sign in through Chrome, hit the back button, and check if the problem is resolved.
12. Re-add your Walmart Account to the Device (Android Only)
The Walmart app may not function correctly if the account details saved on your device are no longer recognized or validated by the app’s servers. This can prevent the app from retrieving data from the servers.
To rectify this issue, you can try removing the account from your device and then re-adding it. This should refresh the account details and restore proper communication with the servers.
- Log out of the Walmart app and exit the app.
- Navigate to Settings > Accounts.
For work or BYOD devices, go to Work Profile > Settings > Accounts. - Select your Walmart or Walmart SSO account and tap on Delete Account.
- Confirm the account deletion and restart the phone.
- Launch the Walmart app and log in. Check if the problem is solved.
13. Re-Enroll the Device with Walmart
If you are using a device registered with Walmart, the app may cease to function properly if the synchronization between your device and the servers becomes disrupted.
This can be fixed by re-registering your device with Walmart. Doing so will initiate a fresh synchronization of data between your device and the servers, which should help get the app back on track.
- Log in to Walmart’s website on your browser.
- Go to Devices and unenroll the problematic device.
- On your phone’s work profile, launch the Walmart Hub app.
- Navigate to This Device > Enrollment > Unenroll.
- Restart the phone and enroll the device with Walmart.
- Launch the Walmart app and check if it is working correctly.
- If the issue persists, redo 2FA on your Walmart account and check if it allows the app to work properly.
If that does not work and your BYOD device utilizes Samsung Knox, check whether any Privacy Policy updates for Samsung Knox are available in the phone’s work profile. If so, accept the new TOS.
14. Reset All Settings of the Device
If a specific setting on your device prevents the Walmart app from functioning correctly or if a particular setting becomes invalid, the app might fail to operate as expected.
Sometimes, an OS update can introduce a new feature or modify a pre-existing setting, potentially affecting the app’s operations. In such cases, resetting all device settings back to their default state might help resolve the issue.
- Launch Settings on your phone.
- Navigate to General Management> Reset Options > Reset All Settings.
- If asked to, enter your phone’s password and confirm to reset all the settings.
- Restart your phone and check if Walmart’s app is working correctly.
15. Reset the Device to its Factory Defaults
As a last resort, you can proceed with factory resetting your device. It is possible that some OS components needed by the app are not installed properly or are stuck. Resetting the device and reinstalling the Walmart app should do the trick.
It is recommended to fully charge the phone’s battery, back up your phone, and check Walmart’s social media handles for any service outages.
For iOS devices, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
For Android:
- Launch the phone Settings.
- Navigate toGeneral Management > Reset Options > Factory Data Reset option.
- If required, enter the phone’s password and confirm to reset the phone.
- Once completed, set up the phone as a new device and install the Walmart app.
- Launch the app, and hopefully, it will operate properly. In the case of Walmart’s work-related app, make sure to install any prerequisites for the app (such as Tunnel or Me@Walmart).
If that does not work, you may contact Walmart to resolve the issue. During this time, you may use the Walmart website or install an older version (if the problem is caused by a recent app update) of the Walmart app; however, this is strictly not recommended.
